Game of Thrones, which is based on George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, is a multilayered story of political intrigue, warring factions, competing destinies, and complex characters. Members of distinguished houses with names like Lannister, Stark, Baratheon, and Targaryen compete for right to sit on the Iron Throne and rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It is the most gorgeously-realised fantasy universe ever seen on television. Filmed on location in places like Northern Ireland, Croatia, Malta, and Iceland, the creators of the show have constructed a fantastical setting out of various real-world elements, which adds to its authenticity. Peter Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister is devilishly clever, Maisie Williams' Arya Stark is funny and feisty, Jack Gleeson's Joffrey Baratheon is disturbingly psychopathic, and Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen is regal and resilient. There are too many great characters to count and all of them match the tone of the world. The writing, directing, and acting are all excellent, and the creators are not afraid to deviate from the source material when the situation calls for it. HBO's titanic series Game of Thrones is a trailblazer for mature high fantasy on television and it keeps raising the bar each season.
